Inking attachment for printing-presses.



I '1. RAFPERTY. mxms ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1908. 9.1 8 ,595, Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

a sums-sum 1.

I APPLICATION FILED APB.- 18 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS RAFFERTY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

INKING ATTACHMENT FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

7 Application filed April 18,

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, THOMAS Rarrnn'rr, a citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Inking Attachments for Printing-Presses, of which the\ following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention, relating, as indicated, to inking attachments for printing presses, has more particular regard to the provision of such an attachment for use on the ordinary job or Gordon press.

The object of the invention is the provision of such at attachment whereby the ink may not only be automatically transferred from the fountain to the disk of the press, s but whereby a more thorough and even distribution of ink on such disk may be had than by hand or any mechanical device wherewith I am acquainted.

To the accomplishment of the above and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly *pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of the oscillatory bed and appurtenant parts of an ordinary j obbing or Gordon press, such parts including the inking attacln'ncnt that constitutes the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 43' are corresponding enlarged elevational views of a detail of the device showing two modified forms thereof; and Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged sectional view of a portion of the detail shown in Fig. l.

Noting Figs. 1 and 2, particularly, A will be seen to designate the oscillatory bed of the press Whereon the form is set up, from which the printing is done. The ink is transferred to such form from the disk a by means of the usual inkin rolls a. mounted upon a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

1908. Serial No. 427,801.

roller frame A of familiar construction. Movement of roller frame A is had about an axis a formed by the points of pivotal attachment of the side arms a to the bed A; and such oscillation is effected by means of a roller arm 64 attached to a fixed pivotal point (not shown) on the frame of the machine and pivoted to said roller frame eccentrically of its axis at a point a. These parts, it will be understood, relate only indirectly to the present invention but are introduced that the operation of such invention may be more readily explained. Such invention, as has been indicated, relates to means for distributing the ink onto the disk at preparatory to the rolls a taking it up and in turn inking the form. The mechanism in question comprises as a base, a frame B made up of two ways I) disposed longitudinally of disk a and parallel with the surface of the same. Mounted on said ways Z) so as to be movable up and down across the disk is a carriage B comprising two end-plates b suitably joined together by cross members 5* in which the distributing mechanism proper is mounted. Such distributing mechanism includes a plurality of rollers, three or more, as shown, the function of which is to receive the ink from the fountain B indicated in dotted outline only, and deposit such ink in a thin even film upon the disk a. Of the rollers just referred to one 12 preferably of iron or other resistant material, is fixedly mounted in the carriage and is furthermore provided with a inion that meshes with a rack b formec on the under side of one of the ways Z) so that it is positively rotated as the carriage is moved up and down in the manner aforesaid. On each side of such fixedly mounted roller Z)" are two movably mounted rollers b If, their ends being supported from arms 5 b pivotally hung on the inside faces of the respec tive end-plates b of the carriage. These rolls 6 b are preferably made of composition and are normally retained in contact with the fixedly mounted roll I) by means of springs 5 connected with such arms. When thus positioned, the foremost roll I) is likewise held in contact with the face of the disk (2.

Movement of the carriage on ways 5 is derived from roller arm a through a lever a joined with said arm and the carriage by links, or connecting rods (2 a respectively. The foremost roll 6 is designed to beralternately raised from and restored to such contact with disk a as the carriage reaches its upper and lower positions, respectively. Two forms of mechanism are shown for ac complishing this result. In the form illus trated in Figs. 1, 2', and 3, rock arms v6 are connected with the upper end of the hanger 6 by which such roll is supported in the carriage, the hangers being permitted a limited vertical movement, as shown. Oscillation of the rock arms'to raise and lower the hangers and thereby the roll is had on the desired occasions by the engagement of a dog, or cam lever, I) mounted on the outside face of the carriage end and adapted to engage with buttons or pins b on the ways I). The modified form of construction illustrated in Fig. 4 consists in the substitution of an eccentric arm 6 for the means previously described as serving to raise and lower the hangers supporting the foremost roller- This eccentric arm is designed to be oscillated by fixed stops (the rearmost 6 alone being shown) secured at the respective ends of the ways constituting the frame of the device and operating in a manner analogous to that of the stop provided for actuating the rearmost roll, as will next be eX plained. The rearmost roll 5 is designed to be moved outwardly and away from the intermediate fixedly mounted roll, when the carriage reaches its upper position, by virtue of the engagement by the upper ends of the hangers [9 from which such roll 6 is supported, with a fixed stop I) in the frame of the device. The effect of such outer movement is to bring theroll in question into contact with the fountain 5 The ink thus received from the fountain will obviously be transferred to the intermediate roll and thence onto the foremost roll upon the downward movement of the carriage. Such latter roll being out of contact pending. this movement, the ink will be thoroughly distributed over its face before it is restored to its contacting position at the other end of such movement. Upon the return of the carriage a thorouglny distributed and even film will be deposited upon the disk. As found desirable, or necessary, one ormore intermediate rolls I) may be employed to still further perfect the dis tribution of the ink pending its transfer from the rearmost to the foremost roll.

Such extra distributing rolls are removably held in suitable bearings I) therefor provided in the respective end-plates of the carriage.

It will, of course, be evident that the alternate raising and lowering'of the foremost roll Z) into contact with disk (4 may bedispensed with and still a. much more satisfactory spreading of the ink secured than where the present crude methods of inking the disk prevail. Other current arrangements for assisting the distribution of the ink may be employed in connection with the foregoing structure. Thus a double disk may be utilized in place of the unitary plate shown,

'Fig. 2 and where additional distribution 7 rolls Z) are employed, one or both may be furnished with screw bearings, or other suitable meansmay be provided, whereby they will be reciprocated longitudinally upon being rotated.

)ther modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed-provided the means stated by any of the fol-lowiug claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point" out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination with the fountain, disk, and inking rolls of a printing press; of a distributing device connected to move across said disk inunison with said inking rolls, said device including a roll adapted to contact directly with said disk, another roll adapted, in one position of the device, to contact with said fountain, and a third roll between aforesaid rolls adapted to transfer ink from the last named roll to the first; and means adapted to positively rotate said third roll.

2. In a printing press, the combination of the disk; inking rolls coiiperative therewith; a fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; ways disposed laterally of said disk; a carriage supported on said ways so as to be movable up and down across said disk; and two distributing rolls mounted in said carriage, the one being adapted to contact with said disk, and the other, in the upper position of said device, to contact with said fountain and to transfer the ink thus received to said first roll.

3. in a printing press, the combination or the disk; inking rolls cooperati e therewith; a fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; ways disposed laterally of said disk; a carriage supported on said ways so as to be movable up and down across said disk; and distributing rolls mounted in said carriage, one-of said rolls being adapted to contact with said disk, another, in: the upper position of said carriage. to contact with said fountain, and an int-e ediate roll being adapted to transfer ink from the last named roll to thefirst.

d. In a, printing press, the combination of the disk; inking rolls cotiperative therewith; a: fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; ways disposed laterally of said disk; a carriage supported on said ways so as to be movable up and down across said disk; means for thus moving said car riage in unison with said inking rolls; distributing rolls mounted in said carriage, one being adapted to contact with said disk, another in the upper position of said device, to contact with said fountain and an intermediate roll being adapted to transfer ink from the last named roll to the first;- and means for positively rotating said intermediate roll.

5. In a printing press, the combination of the disk; inking rolls cooperative therewith; a fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; a carriage supported so as to be movable up and down across said disk; distributing rolls mounted in said carriage, one of said rolls being adapted to con tact with said disk, another, in the upper posit-ion of said carriage, to contact with said fountain, and an intermediate roll be ing adapted to transfer ink from the last named roll to the first; and means for positively rotating said intermediate roll as said carriage is moved.

6. In a printing press, the combination of the disk; inking rolls cooperative therewith; a fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; ways disposed laterally of said disk; a carriage supported on said ways so as to be movable up and down across said disk; a rack provided in connection with said ways; and a distributing device mounted in said carriage, said device including a roll adapted to contact wit-h said disk, another roll adapted, in the upper position of said carriage, to contact with said fountain, and an intern'iediate roll adapted to transfer ink from the last-named roll to the first, said intermediate roll bearing a pinion meshing with said rack, whereby said roll is positively rotated upon movement of said carriage.

7. The combination with the fountain, disk, and inking rolls of a printing press; of a distributing device comprising a plurality of rolls movable across said disk and adapted at one point. in its movement to receive ink from said fountain onto one of said rolls, another of said rolls being adapted to contact with said disk; and means for .dternately placing said last named roll in contact, and holding the same out of contact, with saiddisk, pending movement of said device in opposite directions.

8. The combination with the fountain, disk, and inking rolls of a printing press; of a distributing device movable across said disk, said device including one roll adapted to contact directly with said disk, another roll adapted, in one position of the device, to contact with said fountain and, an intermediate roll adapted to transfer the ink from said second to said first roll; means for alternately placing said first roll in contact, and holding the same out of contact, with said disk, pending movement of said device in opposite directions; and means for posi' tively rotating said intermediate roll.

9. The combination with the fountain, disk, and inking rolls of a printing press; of a distributing device movable across said disk, said device including one roll adapted to contact directly with said disk, and another roll movable relatively to said first roll, and when so moved adapted, in one position of the device, to contact with said fountain and subsequently to transfer the ink thus received to said first roll; and means for moving said second roll relatively to said first roll thus to bring the same into contact with said fountain.

10. The combination with the fountain, disk, and inking rolls of a printing press; of a distributing device movable across said disk, said device including one roll adapted to contact directly with said disk and another roll adapted, in one position of the device, to contact with said fountain and subsequently to transfer the ink thus received to said first roll; means for alternately placing said first roll in contact, and holding the same out of contact, with said disk, pending movement of said device in opposite directions; and means for moving said second roll relatively to said first roll to bring the same into contact with said fountain.

11. In a printing press, the combination of the disk; inking rolls cooperative therewith; a fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; a carriage supported so as to be movable up and down across said disk; distributing rolls mounted in said carriage, one fixedly and two others movably; means for retaining said movably mounted-rolls in contact with said fixedly mounted roll, one of said movably mounted rolls being adapted when in normal position to also contact with said disks, and the other thereof being movable, inthe upper position of said carriage, into contact with said fountain; means adapted to thus move said last named roll as said carriage approaches its upper position; and means adapted to raise the other movable roll out of contact with said disk.

12. In a printing press, the combination of the disk; inking rolls cooperative therewith; a fountain disposed transversely of said disk near its upper edge; a carriage supported so as to be movable up and down across said disk; distributing rolls mounted in said carriage, one fixedly and two others movably; means for retaining said movably mounted rolls in contact with said fixedly mounted roll, one of said movably mounted rolls being? adapted when in normal position Contact, and torestoretheSame into contact, to also Contact with sald (118k, and the other with said d1sk,. as said carriage" approaches 10 thereof being movable, 1'11 the'uppei' position its upper and lower'poi'tlons respeotlvely.

of said carriage, into Contact with said foun- Signed by me this-15th: day of April, 1908. fin-in; means adapted to thus move said last THOMAS RAFFE-RTY.

named 1 011- as saidcai'riage approachesits Aijtested by upper position and means adapted alter- MARY ISRAEL,

nately tornise the other movable roll out of Jmo. F. OBERLIN. 

